NissanDiesel Forums

Basic info: have 81 280ZX GL with L28ET motor want to swap in a diesel
I know (assume?) that the LD28T would basically slip right in(if i can find one).

Want to know: would I be able to fit an RD28Ti in there instead? Basic being: are the engine mounts the same or very similarly placed between the LD28T and the RD28Ti? Or would I have to buy/make special mounts? Or would it be heavier work involved?

RD28Ti is only a factory patrol/safari engine.rear oil pick up-fly by wire.

laurel is the best choise if you need front oil pick up.cedric taxi/wagons are common i dont know what sump is used.I have read that laurel sports come with RD28T but it probably a specialist fit up.[ie dealer extra].

the factory brackets are mounted high compared to the crankshaft as the engine sits down between the chasis.within 4 inches in length of the L28.the air intake has a 90 deg bend to go over the mounting.in a car this is not needed.

RB engines-the blocks use the same engine mount bolt holes.most of these have similar mounts,the cast iron mounts and 4X4 mounts are different.RD28 originally used hydrolic mounts for noise insulation,lots of them run heavy duty petrol/gas mounts due to the cost of the original.

i fitted an alternator to the right side,power steer mount.i found belts didnt last long enough.they use 2 belts around water pump.i had RB30E a/c compressor on the other side and no power steer.i recoment the later engine as it has VAC pump on rocker cover no alternator.

early patrols had problems-if fixed you be ok-RD28 often are made in spain.

RD28Ti is only a factory patrol/safari engine. Rear oil pick up-fly by wire.

Laurel is the best choise if you need front oil pick up.cedric taxi/wagons are common I dont know what sump is used. I have read that laurel sports come with RD28T but it probably a specialist fit up. [ie dealer extra].

The factory brackets are mounted high compared to the crankshaft as the engine sits down between the chasis.within 4 inches in length of the L28. The air intake has a 90 deg bend to go over the mounting. In a car this is not needed.

RB engines-the blocks use the same engine mount bolt holes. Most of these have similar mounts,the cast iron mounts and 4X4 mounts are different. RD28 originally used hydrolic mounts for noise insulation, lots of them run heavy duty petrol/gas mounts due to the cost of the original.

I fitted an alternator to the right side, power steer mount.i found belts didnt last long enough.they use 2 belts around water pump. I had RB30E a/c compressor on the other side and no power steer. I recoment the later engine as it has VAC pump on rocker cover no alternator.

Early patrols had problems-if fixed you be ok-RD28 often are made in Spain.

Re-working the oil pan to accommodate the oil pickup for the 280zx is going to be your big hurdle. But by no means not do-able...

what sort of problems does the RD28 have?

and how hard is it to rework the oilpan? will it just require a feeder tube to pickup from the correct spot or is it more complex than that?

Check out this thread:

240ZD's Ld28 into a 240z

RD28 have been around since 1984-there are often old hard driven engines around.RD28Ti is a recent engine around 10 years.

my RD28 was import 1986 R31 skyline engine [also have a car with a 1990's engine]. low KM.

problems with early patrols,do a search of 4X4 patrol club sites in australia.
iI know about head failures [alloy on cast block/cracks] camshaft and followers. turbo seal failures. electronic trow away IP on later models.
i see used vehicle at work at 160k Km with lots of engine work.to the point that TD42 and new holden V8 have been fitted cheaper than repairs..

a patrol has a rear oil pick up at the very end it has a add-on bit to hang down lower to add extra oil.skyline is at the front-the same shape as a maxima. some models dont have cutouts for sway bar at front. i think the cedric is a patrol sump without the add-on, but i think the sedan and wagon are different.ive not seen one in the flesh.

a RB petrol sump wont fit a diesel.it uses a rubber gasket with tension spacers,pertol version is a gasket free glue on..oil pick up is the same and dip stick is the same.

that said a RD28 is a performer-with the turbo it is petrol like excelleration with lots of torque.LD28 are reliable. i have rallied against a standard patrol and a big exhaust over boosted.a patrol is a near 2 ton beast.our car out accelerated the standard model and we easily caught it at speeds over 80 mph.the worked patrol i never saw this car until a cyl liner failed -- as it was racing 20000 km at sprint paces i would not expect this to happen normally.i was navigator in a 1200kg 4.4 V8 with a 110 top speed-15 sec quarter mile.

BeoWulf_of_WA:

While I can't help on your RD Q, I just realized your location's signficance (which will make absolutely no sense to anyone not familiar with the Puget Sound area).

I didn't get it when I first saw it, and then it struck me just now (days later) when I saw it again and read it phonetically in my mind. Cute.

Location: Poor Tortured, WA!

I live in an area that is all "Ports" too.

yup ya do, and i drove right by ya this morning, and the fairy was too full (one broke down) to let me come back by tonight.

I have both engines available , RD28 and LD28 let me know if interested. I am in california.
oshun02@yahoo.com